Waste not, want not, people always used to say, and they were right. We are a generation of throw aways now, chucking perfectly good food in the bin rather than using it up.
We need to make sure we plan out meals and if we don't do this, no time or whatever reason, we need to make sure we make something out of the food we have before it goes out of date.
Iwould also like to note that 'out of date' is a relative term. Many items have best before dates that are there simply because they have to put a best before date. Always check the food yourself. Meat is something you have to be very careful with, and fish/shellfish as well. Cheese will last a lot longer than the date - unless its a soft cheese. Let your nose be your guide. If cheese has a hint of mould, cut it off and keep using (not if pregnant, dump it) - it will be fine for a couple more days. If, however, it is covered in mould, or has a good bit of dark mould, please dump it.
Eggs are easy to test. because they fill with gas the older they get, they float in water when they are past their best. place egg in pan of water. If it floats, dump it. Otherwise, use it.
Just because a garlic clove has a green stalk at the tip, doesn't mean its past its best, and as long as it isn't squidhy, its usable. Firmness is a good guide for vegetables. If carrots/potates/onions and other root veg are a little soft, its up to you whether you want to use or not. if a potato is green it can be toxic. If you peel it and still green, dump it, if not, its usable.
If you find food about to go out of date, cook it up and freeze it or fridge it and have it the next day - it will be fine. Rice and pasta will go a little beyond their sell-by dates too but be wary in the spice/herb department. They do lose flavour after a while, so use your nose for these.
There are so many ways to use food up = preserves, conserves, freezing, stewing and freezing, you name it. Please try to use what you buy and save yourself some money by not throwing food you;'ve paid for out!
Throwing away left overs is a bit of a crime. Potatoes left over taste amazing the next day and frying them in a little oil, or using them in a stew/pie is just wonderful. Meats can be reheated - as long as you heat them through thoroughly - this goes for rice as well, as most upset tummies after a take-away are often from rice not reheated fully enough. I have a friend who takes whatever she had the night before and uses it in the meal she prepares the following night. Nothing is wasted. We don't have to do that but it gives you an idea. Your stew one night, leftovers can be the base of a curry.chilli the following night. Be creative and waste not, want not!
On that note, I have written a bit of a sexy witchy/werewolfy/vampirey book (not erocita, but sexy). If you like Charlaine Harris, Carrie Vaughn, Patricia Briggs, hopefully you'll like this. It is available on kindle and now in paperback.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Wolf-Witch-Coffin-ebook/dp/B00CCWL6ES/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1366023812&sr=8-1&keywords=the+wolf%2C+the+witch+and+the+coffin
On another note, my second book, The Island of the Mist, is now available on both Kindle and paperback formats:
Kindle: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Island-Mist-Kingslayer-Series-ebook/dp/B0092TUS7U/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1346945410&sr=1-2
And paperback: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Island-Mist-N-Roy/dp/147921292X/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1346506656&sr=1-2
and in the US: http://www.amazon.com/Island-Mist-N-Roy/dp/147921292X/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1346946271&sr=1-2&keywords=the+island+of+the+mist
My first book, The Stone in the Sword, is now reduced in price: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stone-Sword-ebook/dp/B006ZQIEPG/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1327179005&sr=1-3
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